CEN21LA010

The pilot reported that during cruise flight he encountered engine problems, which were followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot decided to perform a forced landing, during which the right wing was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that neither the left nor the right fuel tank had fuel. The pilot stated that, before departure, the left tank was about one-half full, and the right tank was nearly empty. Thus, the pilot was aware of the low fuel state of the airplane but thought that the airplane would have enough fuel for the flight. Because no usable fuel remained on the airplane, the circumstances of the accident were consistent with fuel exhaustion resulting in the total loss of engine power.

On October 4, 2020, about 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna TR182 airplane, N5196S, was substantially damage when it was involved in an accident near Bridgeport, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country flight. According to information collected by investigators, the airplane departed from Stephenville Clark Regional Airport (SEP), Stephenville, Texas, and was in cruise flight at 4,500 ft mean sea level, en route to the Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP). The pilot reported that when the airplane was about 17 nautical miles south of the airport, he encountered engine problems followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank but was unable to restore engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the right wing sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector responded to the accident site and was unable to drain any fuel out from the fuel tanks. The inspector did not detect the smell of fuel at the site or observe fuel staining around the airplane. The left and right fuel gauges indicated that the tanks were empty. The fuel tanks did not appear to be compromised, and no other anomalies with the airplane were discovered that would have precluded normal operation. When a recovery team removed the wings to transport the airplane from the accident site, no fuel was found in either wing. The pilot and passenger told the FAA inspector that, before departing from SEP, the left tank was about one-half full and that the right tank was nearly empty. The pilot stated that he considered purchasing fuel before departure but decided that there would be enough fuel for the planned flight. The pilot also stated that he did not check the fuel quantity visually or with a dipstick before the flight.